PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dario Conca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Lahey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lahey has chosen Liquor & Whores as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Conca
vs
Lahey

183 cm
23
185 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dario Conca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jim Lahey!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lahey misses with a low kick.
Conca fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Conca fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Lahey tries to close the distance and clinch up but Conca swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conca scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Conca is looking for a kimura but Lahey is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Conca to get the leverage.

Conca is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lahey doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Conca.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conca tries to pass the half guard into mount. Lahey knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Conca thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lahey's head.

Conca is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lahey defends it well.

Conca is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Conca seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lahey is looking for a sweep. Conca is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Conca shoots in looking for a takedown. Lahey tries to sprawl out of it but Conca keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lahey manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dario Conca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Conca closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Lahey to counter with a crisp jab.
Lahey tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Conca paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conca fails with the takedown

and Lahey counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A knee to the head by Lahey.
Lahey missing with knees to the body.
Conca avoiding damage as Lahey throws knees to the body.
Lahey pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lahey misses with a knee strike.
Conca managing to block the knees to the body from Lahey.

Conca has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lahey uses from the top position.
Conca lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lahey!
Conca throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Conca misses with a head shot.

Conca jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lahey is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lahey and Conca has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Conca tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Conca has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Conca tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conca wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lahey keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dario Conca will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Conca has his takedown stuffed
and Lahey counters with a low kick, right behind Conca 's knee.
Lahey tries to clinch but Conca moves away

and Conca counters with a nice double leg into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Conca accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Conca tries to free his leg and advance position but Lahey is retaining full guard.
Lahey really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Conca. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Conca is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Lahey keeping moving, preventing Conca from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conca postures up.

Conca postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lahey is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Conca, into his guard.

Lahey avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lahey wants to stand but Conca has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Lahey wants to control from the top but Conca keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Conca had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lahey is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Conca Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lahey's back instead.

Conca is looking for the choke from the back position but Lahey is controlling his hands well.
Lahey is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Conca off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Lahey trying to get back to his feet but Conca is in full control for now.
I really don't envy Lahey right now.

Conca working for the choke.
Lahey looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lahey is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Conca gets his way!

Conca is persistently looking for the submission but Lahey is defending it well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Conca is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lahey knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lahey for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Conca is persistently looking for the submission but Lahey is defending it well.
Lahey is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

Lahey defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Conca's arms.
Conca wants to control but Lahey is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Conca dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Conca swats away the attempt to clinch by Lahey.
Conca misses with a takedown attempt
and Lahey counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Conca closes the distance but Lahey moves to the side

and Lahey counters by moving into the clinch.
Lahey content to slow the pace in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lahey looking to throw knees to the head but Conca is blocking nicely.
Lahey gets underhooks to prevent Conca's takedown attempt.
Lahey holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lahey throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lahey tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Conca goes for a takedown attempt but Lahey pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dario Conca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Conca shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lahey counters with a nice low kick that buckles Conca's knee momentarily.
Lahey misses with an attempted mid kick.
Conca wants to clinch
and Lahey counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Conca shoots and misses

and Lahey moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lahey lands a knee to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lahey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Lahey throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Conca blocks it with crossed arms.
Lahey connects with a knee to the head.
Lahey misses with a knee to the head.
Lahey landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Lahey comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Conca takes a knee right on the jaw!
Lahey misses with a knee strike.
Lahey throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lahey with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lahey misses with a knee strike.
Lahey misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Conca.
Conca drops down looking for an ankle pick but Lahey pulls his leg out and moves away.
Conca misses with a takedown
and Lahey makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Conca avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Conca circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jim Lahey is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Conca tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Conca tries for a takedown but Lahey circles away easily
and Lahey counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Lahey getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lahey chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Lahey clinches with his opponent.
Lahey lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lahey with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Conca jumps guard but Lahey stands there with Conca around his waist. Conca gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lahey tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jim Lahey has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dario Conca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Conca decides to pull guard.

Conca has his foot on Lahey's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lahey works his way back into a safe position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Lahey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Conca has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dario Conca!